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Tunisia Poorna Jagannathan is an Indian-American actress and producer known for impactful roles in film and television, including 'The Night Of' and 'Never Have I Ever,' and for her advocacy in human rights through theatre.
Poorna will shoot a lead role (July-Nov 2025) in a TBA Apple TV+ series, based on Lars Kepler's Joona Linna book series.
Her commitment to authenticity led the 'Deli Boys' team to partner with renowned South Asian brands including RASTAH for mob fashion.
Her commitment to authenticity led the 'Deli Boys' team to partner with renowned South Asian brands including HSY for mob fashion.
Her commitment to authenticity led the 'Deli Boys' team to partner with renowned South Asian brands including KYNAH for mob fashion.
The American producer and actress looked stunning in an elegant black dress with stylish cut-out details, as seen on the brand's 'As Seen On' section for Spring 2023.
The actor is a huge fan of Cuyana, with all her makeup bags being from the brand. She specifically loves the Cuyana Travel Beauty Roll ($248).
Jagannathan's on-screen wardrobe for 'Never Have I Ever' included stellar homegrown Indian fashion from designers like Sabyasachi, which helped define her character arc.
Jagannathan's on-screen wardrobe for 'Never Have I Ever' included stellar homegrown Indian fashion from designers like Anita Dongre, which helped define her character arc.
Jagannathan's on-screen wardrobe for 'Never Have I Ever' included stellar homegrown Indian fashion from designers like Payal Khandwala, which helped define her character arc.
Poorna Jagannathan is a brand ambassador for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
Poorna Jagannathan was born on December 22, 1972, in Tunis, Tunisia, to Indian diplomat parents. Her early life involved living in multiple countries, including India, Pakistan, Ireland, Brazil, and Argentina, which contributed to her fluency in Tamil, Hindi, English, Spanish, and Portuguese. She pursued higher education at the University of Brasília and later graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, with a degree in journalism. She also received a scholarship for a Master of Fine Arts in acting at the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University, though she left after the first year to continue her acting studies with mentor Elizabeth Kemp and at The Barrow Group, where she is now a board and company member. Before her acting career, Jagannathan spent 15 years in advertising with agencies like TBWA\Worldwide, Ogilvy, and Deutsch Inc., eventually founding her own consultancy, Cowgirls & Indians.
Her career in entertainment began in the early 2000s, with notable roles establishing her presence in both Western and Indian cinema. She gained critical acclaim for her portrayal of a journalist in the 2011 Hindi film ‘Delhi Belly,’ which was later recognized as one of the top 25 Bollywood movies of the decade by Film Companion in 2019. In 2012, she joined the cast of the HBO miniseries ‘The Night Of’ as Safar Khan, a role that garnered significant praise for its emotional depth. Jagannathan further rose to prominence for her leading role as Nalini Vishwakumar in Mindy Kaling’s Netflix series ‘Never Have I Ever’ (2020–2023), a performance acclaimed for its nuanced portrayal of an immigrant mother.
Beyond acting, Jagannathan has been a producer and activist. Moved by a 2012 gang rape and murder in Delhi, she initiated, produced, and acted in the testimonial play ‘Nirbhaya’ in 2013. This play, co-created with Yaël Farber, aimed to break the silence around sexual violence and won the 2013 Amnesty International Award, the Fringe First Award, and the Herald Angel Award. ‘Nirbhaya’ is regarded as a significant moment in India’s women’s empowerment movement and toured internationally. Her contributions to arts and activism have been recognized with honors such as being named among the ‘Top 100 Most Impactful Asians’ by Gold House in 2021, 2022, and 2025, and among India’s top 50 most powerful women by Verve magazine in 2014. She is also a brand ambassador for PETA.
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